Attention social media enthusiasts! Brace yourselves for the latest sensation hitting the online world: UGC TikTok. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the trends, you’ve likely noticed the surge in user-generated content sponsorship. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of this exciting phenomenon and its implications for us, and determine whether it’s a perfect fit for your brand. Don’t miss out on this wave of UGC TikTok – it’s time to dive in and make the most of this new opportunity!
Table of Contents
What is UGC on TikTok?
UGC TikTok, which stands for User Generated Content TikTok, is a new category of brand sponsorships. It refers to any type of video content created by your current customers or creators showcasing your brand.
On TikTok, UGC plays a central role in shaping the platform’s unique, community-driven culture and is a powerful tool for engagement and marketing.
What does UGC look like?
Similar to paid sponsorship, UGC (User-Generated Content) comes in various forms, such as images, videos, reviews, testimonials, and even podcasts. What sets UGC apart is that it is original content specific to a brand, created by customers, loyalists, or employees. Paid sponsorships, on the other hand, involve influencers or creators producing content for compensation, often without direct affiliation to the brands. This distinction is crucial as UGC represents a modern-day form of word-of-mouth marketing.
According to Hootsuite, UGC is typically submitted to businesses without an obligation for creators to share it on their own channels. In contrast, with traditionally paid sponsorships, creators must post on their own channels, as part of what the brand pays for is access to the creator’s audience.
Why brands should sponsor TikTok UGC?
In this list, Mega Digital has highlighted the key reasons why it’s high time for you to begin promoting UGC on TikTok.
Build trust with the audience
Establishing trust is a crucial initial step in making a mark in communities like TikTok. It is essential to provide potential audiences with a compelling reason to engage with your brand and place their trust in you. This is where UGC becomes highly influential, showcasing individuals similar to your target audience on TikTok, and capturing their attention from the outset.
Over 90% of consumers trust brands that incorporate UGC into their marketing campaigns. By leveraging UGC, you can foster trust, enhance brand credibility, and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Raise brand awareness more authentically
Utilizing UGC on TikTok offers a valuable opportunity to genuinely enhance brand visibility. One of the key advantages is the ability to reach a wider audience, including those who may not be receptive to traditional advertisements or promotions.
This is due to the spontaneous nature of TikTok users and the platform’s emphasis on hyper-personalized content tailored to individual interests, both personal and professional.
For instance, let’s consider the Ordinary, one of the best brands on TikTok in the Cosmetic industry. While directly targeting the desired audience through the brand’s TikTok account, they also collaborate with creators to generate UGC for the brand, increasing the likelihood of reaching users who are genuinely interested in purchasing beauty products.
Promote customers to make a purchase
As UGC TikTok videos originate from real users rather than brands, they have a higher likelihood of driving purchases. When it comes to making their first-time purchase, as many as 70% of consumers consider UGC reviews as a crucial factor. Furthermore, an overwhelming 93% of customers find user-generated content to be extremely valuable in helping them make informed decisions when it comes to buying a product.
Create a stronger emotional impact
UGC videos on TikTok have a superior capacity to emotionally engage the audience when compared to content produced by brands. According to Real Eyes report, TikTok UGC videos boast an encoding score 10 times higher than traditional ads and 4.7 times higher than Facebook ads. This stark difference implies a higher probability of cultivating a favorable brand image and influencing consumers’ purchasing choices.
Additionally, UGC has the potential to generate word-of-mouth marketing, as individuals are inclined to share positive brand experiences with their social circles.
4 Effective Strategies for Brands to Get UGC on TikTok
1. Launch Branded Hashtag Challenges
Branded hashtag challenges nowadays are one of the coolest forms of inspiring TikTok users to make their own creative pieces on the particular brand. You can introduce a fun and easily achievement challenge with a catchy branded hashtag and encourage user engagement, as well as create awareness for your merchandise or service.
For example, the beauty brand might develop a challenge to show before-and-after transformations with their products covered by a beautiful hashtag, such as #GlowUpChallenge. The point is to make it a fun challenge while also relevant to the audience and also slightly related to your brand. Challenges usually go viral as people fight for who can show the most creativity, which leads to explosive growth rates for UGC.
2. Collaborate with Micro-Influencers
Collaborate with the micro-influencers that best touch your target audience. Give them free products to sample and inspire them to post while using these products. The honest content they render will encourage their audiences to produce the same content, extending the reach of your brand.
3. Motivate UGC Production
Give rewards, discounts, or even giveaways to users who make some content with your brand in it. An example would be holding a contest for the people posting videos featuring your product and awarding prizes-Motivators engage people to be part of his campaign.
4. Create the Relatable and Shareable Content
Encourage users to duet or stitch or reply creatively in some way. For example, a fitness brand would ask users to share “post-workout glow” video footage. This encourages relatable and engaging posts that motivate the user to join in.
TikTok UGC examples of brands
Chipotle – #ChipotleLidFlip
Chipotle, known for its popularity among millennials and Gen Z, launched the #ChipotleLidFlip TikTok challenge in collaboration with popular content creator David Dobrik. The challenge prompted users to film themselves skillfully flipping a burrito bowl while incorporating their unique style and flair.
Recap: The challenge involved flipping the lid of a Chipotle bowl creatively.
Result:
- The hashtag #ChipotleLidFlip has garnered an impressive 345.9 million views on TikTok (as of 22 June 2023).
- Chipotle’s TikTok campaign proved to be immensely successful, driving a substantial surge in app downloads and delivery orders, particularly among the Gen Z demographic.
Samsung Galaxy A – #danceAwesome
Samsung launched the #danceAwesome campaign to promote the Samsung Galaxy A series and involved collaborations with TikTok influencers.
Recap: TikTok users were invited to showcase their dance skills and highlight the benefits of Samsung Galaxy A to a custom song that Blackpink performed.
Result:
- Received nearly 5 million user-generated content pieces and more than 21 billion views on TikTok, each highlighting the benefits of Samsung Galaxy A.
- Generated a notable increase of 15% in purchase intent and a significant rise of 35% in favor.
E.l.f Cosmetics – #EyesLipsFace
E.l.f Cosmetics, a prominent player in the beauty industry, expertly harnessed UGC TikTok potential through their #EyesLipsFace challenge.
Recap: Participants were encouraged to showcase their dance moves to the music “Eyes.Lips.Face.” for a chance to win elf cosmetics, makeup, and skincare products valued at $250.
Result:
- Rose to #2 favored beauty brand among teenagers, based on Piper Sandler’s Semi-Annual Teen Survey, indicating its strong popularity among Gen Z.
- Accumulated more than 10 billion views and generated close to 7 million user-created videos on TikTok.
FAQs about UGC TikTok
Are influencers essential for TikTok UGC campaigns?
Actually, it is optional to collaborate with influencers to launch a UGC campaign on TikTok. While partnering with TikTok influencers can be an effective way to spread the word about your campaign quickly, you can also reach out to content creators by using the right strategies.
Is payment required to obtain UGC TikTok?
Not. The whole concept of a UGC TikTok campaign is to obtain organic content from users who willingly choose to participate. However, if you decide to collaborate with influencers to promote your campaign, you will need to offer them a paid partnership.
Final Word
To conclude, TikTok UGC campaigns have emerged as a game-changer for brands seeking to engage with their audience in a meaningful and authentic way. By encouraging users to create and share content related to their brand, businesses can ignite a wave of creativity, generate buzz, and solidify their presence on TikTok. So, seize the opportunity, embrace UGC, and unlock the power of TikTok for your brand’s success. Besides, you should explore the world of TikTok SEO techniques to enhance your visibility on the platform.